Educational Technology and Change Journal

By Jim Shimabukuro (assisted by Copilot and Gemini)
Editor

Introduction: I began this article with Copilot then worked with Gemini for more details. -js

Copilot: The United States currently leads in developing humanoid robots that function most like human beings, thanks to its dominance in AI, robotics, and commercial innovation. Here’s a breakdown of why the U.S. stands out:

The United States currently leads in developing humanoid robots that function most like human beings, thanks to its dominance in AI, robotics, and commercial innovation.

Why the U.S. Leads in Humanoid Robotics

• Major Companies Based in the U.S.:
  • Tesla – Optimus: Designed for general-purpose tasks, with human-like form and dexterity.
  • Figure AI – Figure 02: A humanoid robot aimed at replacing human labor across industries.
  • Agility Robotics – Digit: Already employed in logistics, Digit walks upright and handles packages.
  • Boston Dynamics – Atlas: Famous for its athleticism—can run, jump, and perform parkour.
  • Apptronik – Apollo: Built for industrial and service tasks with expressive human-like features.
• AI Integration & Real-World Deployment:
  • U.S. robots increasingly combine advanced AI models with real-world functionality, from warehouse work to social interaction.
  • Figure 02 and Digit are already being tested in commercial environments, not just labs.
• Funding & Ecosystem:
  • U.S. startups benefit from massive venture capital, partnerships with tech giants, and access to cutting-edge AI research.
  • The country’s AI-first approach allows humanoids to evolve rapidly in cognitive and emotional modeling.

Other Notable Countries

• Japan – Pioneered humanoid robotics with ASIMO (Honda) and Pepper (SoftBank), focusing on social interaction and hospitality.
• China – Rising fast with robots like Tiangong (Beijing HRIC) and Yuanzheng A2 (Agibot), emphasizing industrial and service roles.
• UK & Canada – Known for expressive robots like Ameca (Engineered Arts, UK) and Phoenix (Sanctuary AI, Canada), which excel in facial realism and conversational AI.

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Gemini: The similarity in the look of many contemporary humanoid robots is not by chance, but is due to a combination of shared fundamental design goals and, to an extent, a common supply chain for key components.

Here is a breakdown of why many modern industrial humanoid robots look similar:

1. Converging on a “Functional Humanoid” Design

The primary reason for the similarity is that these robots are being designed for the same practical purpose: to work in environments built for humans (e.g., factories, warehouses, homes, and offices).

• Bipedal Form: To navigate spaces designed for people (stairs, narrow aisles, standard door widths), a bipedal form (two arms, two legs) is required. This immediately creates a general silhouette that is “humanoid.”
• The “Anthropomorphic Envelope”: The robots need to be a similar size and shape to a human to manipulate human-sized objects, use human tools, and interact with human infrastructure (like shelving, conveyors, and control panels). This functional requirement drives them toward a similar height and general mass distribution.
• Aesthetic of Utility: The modern design favors a sleek, white or black, articulated look that avoids the “Uncanny Valley.” This aesthetic—often described as resembling a “downscaled mobile suit” or just a “functional robot”—signals competence without being overly creepy or distracting. Exposed joint covers and a lack of a realistic face (often using a simple screen or LED eyes) are common design choices to manage human-robot interaction and focus on utility.
• Electric Actuators: The shift from noisy, bulky hydraulic systems (like the retired Atlas) to quieter, more energy-efficient electric actuators allows for a sleeker, smaller, and cleaner profile, further contributing to a similar look across different manufacturers.

2. Common Component Manufacturers (The Supply Chain)

While the companies you listed (Tesla, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Engineered Arts, etc.) do not share a single primary manufacturer, they often rely on the same specialized suppliers for high-tech internal components.

• Actuator and Gearbox Suppliers: The joints (actuators, motors, and gearboxes) are the most complex mechanical components. Companies like Harmonic Drive LLC, CubeMars, and others supply high-precision, high-torque, and compact joint modules (including specialized motors and harmonic reducers) that are essential for dynamic bipedal movement. When multiple robot companies use similar off-the-shelf or slightly customized versions of these cutting-edge components, it can influence the size and shape of the limbs and torso housing them.
• Sensors and Perception: Robots require sophisticated sensors for vision (cameras, LiDAR), balance (force/torque sensors, gyroscopes), and dexterity. Many manufacturers source these sensors and related electronic control units from a limited pool of specialized suppliers, which can lead to similar-looking sensor arrays or head designs.

In summary, the similar appearance is a result of functional convergence (all robots are trying to solve the same problem of working in a human world) combined with the technological limits and advantages of a shared global supply chain for high-performance robotics components.

Comparison and Ranking of Humanoid Robot Capabilities (2024-2025)

The most advanced humanoid robots often specialize in one area of human-like performance, such as dynamic movement, fine motor control, or social interaction.

1. Agility and Dynamic Mobility (Movement and Balance)

This category is about how well a robot can move its whole body—walking, running, balancing, and navigating complex terrain.

Rank	Robot	Key Strengths in Agility/Mobility	Notable Performance
1	Boston Dynamics Atlas (Experimental)	Exceptional dynamic balance and high-speed, complex whole-body movement.	Known for parkour-like feats, backflips, rising from a prone position, and pivoting. It represents the peak of athletic, dynamic human simulation.
2	Unitree H1	High walking speed and stability.	Noted for its fast walking speed (up to ) and advanced stability.
3	Tesla Optimus Gen 2	Improved gait and balance.	Demonstrated walking and complex poses like squats and yoga, showing significant improvement in stability and fluid movement.
4	Agility Robotics Digit	Reliable, robust bipedal movement in human environments.	Focuses on logistics-specific locomotion: navigating stairs, ramps, and walking on varied warehouse floors to perform industrial tasks.

2. Dexterity and Manipulation (Hand and Arm Movement)

This category measures the robot’s fine motor control, hand complexity, and ability to grasp and manipulate a variety of objects.

Rank	Robot	Key Strengths in Dexterity/Manipulation	Technical Specs/Feats
1	Figure 02	High-level, human-like dexterity and precision for industrial tasks.	Features five-fingered hands with 16 Degrees of Freedom (DoF) per hand, enabling tasks like using tools and handling fragile objects. It also has a high total DoF (35).
2	Tesla Optimus Gen 2	Developing general-purpose fine motor control.	Demonstrated delicately picking up an egg without breaking it and features 11 DoF per hand with tactile fingers.
3	Apptronik Apollo	Focus on reliable, heavy-duty manipulation.	Capable of lifting a significant payload of (highest among the industrial bots) with a focus on safe human-robot interaction using its force-control architecture.
4	Fourier Intelligence GR-2	Increased industrial dexterity.	Hands are touted as being twice as dexterous as its predecessor, focusing on light lifting and patient care/rehabilitation tasks.

3. Human-Like Interaction (Appearance, Expression, and Social AI)

This category evaluates the robot’s ability to engage with humans using realistic facial expressions, conversational AI, and natural gestures.

Rank	Robot	Key Strengths in Interaction/Appearance	Notable Features
1	Engineered Arts Ameca	Widely considered the most advanced robot for human-like social interaction.	Utilizes Mesmer Tech to mimic human bone structure and skin texture for incredibly realistic facial expressions (smiling, blinking, gasping). Primarily a platform for human-robot interaction research.
2	Hanson Robotics Sophia	A celebrity android designed for lifelike communication.	Features sophisticated AI for recognizing human faces, emotions, and hand gestures, enabling her to comprehend natural language and express her own emotions in conversation.
3	Erica	Focus on a realistic face and conversational AI.	Has a face that closely resembles a human with expressive eyes and advanced AI for dialogue and reacting to social signals.
4	Figure 02 and Tesla Optimus	General-purpose intelligence for task understanding.	Both use advanced Vision-Language Models (VLM/LLM) to understand complex tasks from voice or visual cues, making their interaction highly functional for work.

Summary Conclusion

The ability to “simulate what human counterparts are able to do” is best viewed through three specialized lenses:

1. For Extreme Physical Feats and Agility: Boston Dynamics Atlas is unmatched.
2. For Dexterous Work and General-Purpose Tasks: Figure 02 is a strong contender, demonstrating superior hand dexterity and already performing real-world tasks in a factory. Tesla Optimus is rapidly catching up with high DoF and fine motor control.
3. For Social and Emotional Interaction: Engineered Arts Ameca is the current leader in mimicking human facial expressions and emotional response.

In the commercial/industrial space, Figure 02, Tesla Optimus, Apptronik Apollo, and Agility Digit are the most relevant, each excelling in a specific part of the human workload: Figure and Optimus for general-purpose work and dexterity, Apollo for heavy lifting, and Digit for industrial logistics endurance.

This is the core question in the current robotics race. The short answer is that we are not there yet, but the industry is rapidly moving toward a single general-purpose humanoid robot that can handle all those roles.

Today, the line is blurring, and a few specific humanoid robots are being developed with the explicit goal of general home use.

The Closest Contenders for General Home Use

While many companies are starting with industrial tasks, a few are uniquely focused on the home environment:

Robot	Company	Primary Focus/Goal	Key Detail
NEO	1X Technologies (backed by OpenAI)	Directly targeting home/domestic use.	Designed with a “softer shell” and friendly appearance for safety and companionship; currently being tested in homes using a combination of autonomy and human teleoperation for data gathering.
Optimus	Tesla	General-purpose, but with a massive push for home assistance.	Elon Musk has repeatedly stated its goal is to perform diverse tasks from industrial work to household chores (cleaning, cooking, childcare); targets an affordable price point ($\sim$$20,000$).
Figure 02	Figure AI	General-purpose, with a strong focus on learning new skills.	While starting in factories, the company has announced “Project Go-Big,” leveraging a partnership with a major residential owner to train its AI (Helix) on vast amounts of human video data to learn home-based tasks, including navigation and responding to natural language commands like “go water the plants.”
Atom	Dobot	Explicitly advertised for kitchen and home use.	Already demonstrated making breakfast with high precision ( mm accuracy); mass production is expected to begin in mid-2025 with a target price of .

Are these currently separate skills?

Yes, for now, they are effectively separate skills, but the robots are built to converge them.

• Specialized Automation: Many current robots that cook and clean are specialized:
  • Robot Cook: Kitchen-specific systems like Moley Robotic Kitchen are automated kitchens with robotic arms, not a mobile, general-purpose humanoid.
  • Robot Cleaner: You already own specialized robots like Roomba (vacuum) and various robotic mops, which are excellent at one thing but can’t cook or walk a dog.
• The “General-Purpose” Humanoid Goal: The entire point of the latest generation of humanoid robots (Optimus, NEO, Figure 02) is to create a general-purpose machine that can learn all of those roles. They are being built with:
  1. Human Form: To navigate and manipulate objects in human-designed spaces (kitchens, stairs, opening doors).
  2. Advanced AI/LLMs: To understand general, natural language commands (e.g., “Tidy up the living room”) and adapt to new, unpredictable environments without being explicitly pre-programmed for every scenario.
  3. Transfer Learning: Companies like Figure are training their robots by watching human videos, allowing them to rapidly transfer new knowledge and skills from human demonstrations.

How Close Are We to a General-Purpose Home Bot?

We are in the transition phase where these robots are moving from labs and factories into limited, real-world trials.

Role	Current Status	Key Challenge
Housekeeper/Maid (Tidying, Vacuuming, Taking out Trash)	Closest to being ready. This is a primary focus for 1X NEO and Tesla Optimus. The tasks are repetitive and don’t require high-stakes dexterity.	Folding laundry, dealing with clutter, and navigating stairs remain difficult challenges for autonomous operation.
Cook (Preparing complex meals)	Demonstrated, but limited. Dobot’s Atom has shown making breakfast with precision. However, tasks like tasting, adapting a recipe on the fly, and complex knife work are exponentially harder.	Dexterity, safety (handling heat/sharp objects), and common sense in a kitchen.
Handyman (Fixing, changing lightbulbs)	Emerging. Requires sophisticated manipulation, fine motor control, and understanding the context of the task (e.g., carrying, climbing, holding tools). Industrial experience with robots like Figure 02 is building this foundation.	Requires robust manipulation of unpredictable tools and objects.
Babysitter/Elder Care	The furthest away. While robots like NEO are focused on a “soft” design for safety, the high-stakes liability, need for emotional intelligence, and unpredictable nature of care work make this the ultimate, long-term goal.	Safety, reliability, ethical considerations, and real-time social/emotional adaptation.

The year 2025 is the moment the most promising robots (NEO, Optimus, Figure 02, Atom) are either entering limited, real-world deployment or starting mass production. While no single robot is a fully autonomous “maid, handyman, cook, etc.” right now, the general-purpose humanoid is the defined target, and the technology to achieve this (especially AI models that can learn from human video and natural language) is advancing rapidly. The bottleneck is no longer just the hardware, but gathering enough data to train the AI to handle the messy, unpredictable world of a human home.

Here is a breakdown of the current situation regarding availability, cost, maintenance, and the risk of obsolescence:

1. Are these robots available to the general public for purchase?

Mostly for limited sale and prototypes, but with a few notable exceptions.

• Commercial/Industrial Focus: Most of the major, high-profile robots you see—like Figure 02 (working at BMW), Agility Robotics’ Digit (in logistics), Apptronik’s Apollo, and Tesla’s Optimus—are currently in prototype, research, or pilot deployment phases with industrial/corporate customers.¹ The general public cannot buy one off the shelf to clean their house.
• The Accessible Robots: The exceptions are a handful of models primarily aimed at researchers, developers, or hobbyists, which have dramatically lowered the entry barrier:
  • Unitree G1: Available for purchase with a starting price around $16,000. However, the base model may not include features like dexterous hands or all the processing power you’d need for complex household tasks, so it’s often viewed as a platform for development.
  • Unitree H1: A more capable, full-size humanoid with a publicly listed price around $90,000, making it one of the most “affordable” full-size bipedal robots for commercial and research use.
  • 1X Technologies’ NEO: While the industrial models are in limited deployment, the company is targeting everyday life and plans to test its NEO Gamma humanoids in a few hundred to a few thousand homes by the end of 2025 as part of an early access program.

In short: You can buy a basic humanoid robot right now (Unitree), but the “general-purpose housekeeper” robot is still a year or more away from being widely available to consumers.

2. Are the costs, maintenance, and upgrading requirements prohibitive?

Yes, for the vast majority of people, they are currently prohibitive.

Factor	Current Reality (2025)	Future Outlook
Purchase Cost	Prohibitive. Prices for commercial/industrial units are typically $30,000 to over $250,000. Even “affordable” models start around $16,000 for a basic research platform. The long-term mass-market goal for a robot like the Tesla Optimus is to get the price under $20,000, but that is years away.	Prices are projected to fall significantly with mass production, with some estimates reaching $15,000 – $50,000 by 2050, making them comparable to a non-luxury car.
Maintenance	Very High. Humanoid robots are complex machines with dozens of joints, actuators, and sensors. Annual maintenance for standard service robots can be 10–20% of the purchase price (e.g., at least $2,500 for a $25,000 robot), and more advanced models can cost tens of thousands per year for maintenance, often requiring specialized technicians.	Manufacturers are actively working to reduce maintenance by using electric actuators (like the new Boston Dynamics Atlas) and “maintenance-free” plastic components.
Upgrades	Necessary and Costly. The technology is improving so fast that today’s hardware will quickly lag behind tomorrow’s AI. Many advanced robots are modular and use high-end computing systems (like NVIDIA Orin) to allow for software (AI) upgrades, but eventually, the core mechanical components will still need to be upgraded or replaced to keep up.	Hardware is becoming more standardized, and manufacturers plan to leverage the “software-defined” nature of AI to deliver capability upgrades via over-the-air updates, much like Tesla does with its cars.

3. Is it a bad idea to buy one now when it will be obsolete soon?

It is a high-risk purchase for a typical consumer due to the speed of progress.

• Rapid Progress is a Fact: Breakthroughs in AI (especially in vision-language-action models like the one Figure is using) and in hardware components (like high-torque electric actuators) are making current-generation robots vastly more capable than their predecessors just months ago.
• The “Data Gap”: While the hardware and AI are accelerating quickly, some experts still point to a massive “data gap” in real-world dexterity and common-sense tasks. The robot that can flawlessly perform every household chore with human-like precision is still considered “decades from realization” by some leading roboticists. This suggests that while progress is fast, it may still be several years before a robot is truly a “general-purpose worker” and less of a high-tech novelty.
• Conclusion for a Consumer: If your goal is a helpful, general-purpose robot assistant for your home, waiting is the safest and most practical strategy. The technology is still in the “early adopter” and “industrial deployment” phase. Buying a robot today means you are paying a very high price to participate in the research and development phase. The capabilities will likely double (or more) in the next two to three years, and prices are guaranteed to fall with mass production.

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